Tom Onslow-Cole says there'd be no better way to erase any memories of his huge shunt at Brands Hatch in March than to win at the Kent circuit in this Sunday's final three HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship rounds of 2008.
Onslow-Cole (pictured right) was involved in the biggest crash of his career on the season's opening day when his Vauxhall Vectra VXR was nudged off the track and into the barriers at high speed along Cooper Straight.
Six months on, still driving the same (rebuilt) car, he currently finds himself sixth in the standings and in a position to pip team-mate Matt Neal - the most experienced driver on the grid - for fifth in the championship. A super-strong weekend could even see him claim third in the final standings.
Onslow-Cole said: "It was the biggest shunt I've ever had in terms of G-force and impact. It came at a fast section of the track where there's no real run off. It's not a very forgiving spot but the cars are very safe.
"It was a freak accident and will probably be in the back of my mind somewhere, but I won't be driving past that spot and thinking about it. I'll be fine and going flat out and looking to erase that memory with a win."
The 21-year-old, from New Malden in Surrey, is also keen to use Brands to gauge himself against team-mates Neal and Fabrizio Giovanardi.
He added: "Going back to Brands at the end of season is good for me. I was fresh within the Vauxhall team back in March and not quite on the winning pace. So it's going to be very interesting to see the development I've made with my car and myself.
"Six months on, I feel much more comfortable in the team obviously. Then again, everyone else has had time to develop so it will be extremely competitive."
Adult race day tickets to see the BTCC title-decider at Brands Hatch this Sunday (21 Sept) cost just £22.00 if booked online at www.brandshatch.co.uk by midday tomorrow (Weds 17 Sept). Admission for children aged 12 and under is FREE. All prices include access to the lunchtime Pit Lane Walkabout session when the public is invited to cross the track to meet the BTCC's star drivers for autographs, photos and plenty of giveaways.
In addition to the BTCC's final three rounds which headline the day, a further seven races from supporting categories - Ginetta Juniors, Porsche Carreras, Renault Clios, Formula Renault single-seaters and SEAT Cupras - will all be in action. The Ginetta, Porsche, FRenault and SEAT title races will also be settled on the day.Attn Sportsdesk: latest news, results and photos are available from the BTCC's official website http://www.btcc.net/.
Note to Editors:The British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) was formed in 1958 and is the UK's most popular motor racing spectacle. Its race season comprises ten events at top circuits across the UK. It is contested by professional racing drivers in competition versions of everyday road cars, giving it tremendous public appeal. Around 300,000 people watch the BTCC trackside each year.
HiQ (part of Goodyear Dunlop) has become the BTCC's new title sponsor in 2008 in a new three-year agreement. It provides a fast-fit car care service at its 150 centres across the UK. In the next two years, that number will rise to 250 as HiQ embarks on revolutionising the fast-fit industry. It has already taken the lead by offering a unique online service www.hiqonline.co.uk for motorists to buy tyres and arrange a fitting appointment.
